Dryden Street School

Dual Language Kindergarten Program

The following information is about the Dual Language Program and the model we are implementing in the Westbury Public School District, Westbury, New York.

Description

  1. Dual Language is a Bilingual Education model that employs two languages, English and Spanish for the purpose of instruction.
  2. It adheres to the State's high expectations and standards for all students.
  3. It is a model that incorporates the English speaking students with the Spanish speaking students.
  4. Each group of students work towards the common goal of becoming bilingual and biliterate in a shared learning environment.

Goals

  1. Students develop higher order thinking skills as they learn a new language in a natural setting.
  2. English Language Learner and English Proficient (ELL and LP) students will develop proficiency in English and Spanish.
  3. Both groups will demonstrate mastery of the higher standards in all of the core subject.
  4. Promotes multicultural awareness and appreciation.

Enrichment

  1. Dual Language is an additive enrichment model for it encourages development of language and academic skills in the second language while increasing the mastery of these in the first language.
  2. Greater understanding between two linguistic communities within the school district and its surrounding community.
  3. Encourages all parents to become active partners in their children's education.
  4. Fosters the development of bilingual, bicultural and biliterate individuals.

"50/50" Model

  1. Same instructional time is devoted to English and Spanish throughout the program's life.
  2. English instruction is given by the English teacher.
  3. Spanish instruction is given by the bilingual teacher.

Classrooms/Aulas

  1. Two classrooms, one with an English teacher, and the other one with a Bilingual teacher.
  2. Each class contains both English and Spanish dominant children.
  3. The children learn math, science, and social studies in both languages on an alternate day basis.
  4. Native language and second language reading instruction is given on a daily basis.
  5. English dominant children also receive Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) while Spanish dominant children receive English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction once a week.

Schedules

  • Snack/Nutrition
  • Math/Science/Social Studies
  • Native Language Arts
  • Literature & Songs
  • Physical Education
  • Children are linguistically mixed

Benefits

  1. All children participating in the Dual Language Program will receive credit toward the Regents Foreign Language requirement.
  2. Research shows that students in a Dual Language Program outperform their monolingual peers academically.
  3. Students will develop high levels of self-esteem and positive cross-cultural attitudes.
  4. Students will be bilingual and biliterate.
  5. "Everyone's Equal." Children learn to value the importance of both languages.
  6. English students learn a second language, while Spanish children maintain their first language.
  7. "Open Doors." They will be more employable through their bilingual status.

 

Supporting students' academic, social and moral growth